Connie Nielson joins Wonder Woman cast

Connie Nielson has joined the cast of 'Wonder Woman' and will star as the titular character's mother

Connie Nielson has joined the cast of 'Wonder Woman'.

The 50-year-old actress - who rose to prominence when she played Roman queen Lucilla in 'Gladiator' alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Russell Crowe - will play the titular superhero's mother in the Warner Bros. production.

The live-action film will be Wonder Woman's origin story and star Gal Gadot the Amazonian heroine.

The movie will be set in the modern era and will reportedly feature numerous flashbacks to World War I.

Connie will play Hippoyta, Queen of the Amazons and mother to Princess Diana of Themyscira, who becomes Wonder Woman.

Villains Circe and Ares will feature and want to bring about World War III which Princess Diana (Wonder Woman's secret alias) attempts to prevent.

Chris Pine will play her ally and love interest Captain Steve Trevor in the movie - which is currently shooting in the UK. and Italy.

Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis and Ewen Bremner also star in the film, which is due out in June 2017.

Before the movie hits cinemas, Wonder Woman will appear in 'Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice', which comes out in March this year.

Diana (Gadot) is a princess of the Amazons, who rescues WW1 pilot / secret agent interest Steve (Pine) and resolves to end the war. Stylish and exciting, with a top cast, touches of real humour and tragedy, and spiffing action sequences, anchored by a strong and highly likeable performance from Gadot.